Well I didn’t get any text with Jim’s submission, but that’s likely because he writes one of the best (and often quite humorous) clay blogs out there and truly you should be reading about him and his work over at Sofia’s Dad’s Pots. I would not be able to do it justice over here. It’s normally my morning read over tea. He shares a beautifully evolving portrait of his life as an artist and father, weaving a narrative around the incredibly detailed and process-oriented pots he creates. I’m sure you’ll be enamored by both his technique and his inspirational daughter.

You can also purchase his work through good old ETSY here.

UPDATE: Here’s some written info Jim just forwarded me to include. Enjoy!

Statement – I am very interested in the complete cycle of creating clay objects. Functional demands inform aesthetics and vice versa creating an evolution that hopefully moves forward to better work. I like the imperfections that occur while aspiring to perfection and am learning to let them be. I do not set out with strict limitations and always allow some wiggle room to let something become something else. Consequently, each object’s creation is different for me and the immense frontier of possibilities keeps me exhilarated and wondering about the unknown results of the coming years of trial and error that all potters eventually get under their belts. For many years I’ve been drawn to certain drawing, painting and calligraphic styles and usually cite artists like Cy Twombly and Mark Tobey as influences along with my perception of Jung’s automatic writing but after many years of not really caring about the origins of influence, I’ve come to believe that I’ve always just been in love with what happens when a brush, pen or pencil makes contact with another surface and using shellac as a resist on dried, unfired clay allows the surface to be etched without losing the immediacy and spontaneity of such brushwork.

Bio – I was born in central NY state and moved south to Kentucky for college. This is when I was introduced to clay. I earned a BFA in ceramics and drawing and went west to Missoula, MT for graduate school. Things didn’t work out financially so after a year I switched universities and majors and spent the next 3 years getting my MFA in sculpture. After that, I moved to Louisville and started two businesses with my very best friend. Although both of the jobs initially allowed me to have a creative outlet, after the companies evolved a little I ended up doing less and less until I was mostly a manager. All this time, the clay was calling and when I found out 5+ years ago that I would be a dad soon, I figured if I didn’t jump in then that it probably wouldn’t happen. In retrospect this was the best decision I have ever made. Aside from doing what I’ve always wanted to for a job, being a potter has allowed me to work from home and be there 24/7 for my daughter and I feel we have all thrived because of this.

[email protected]
http://jimgottuso.wordpress.com